The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony

The Form of Solemnization of

Matrimony

First, the Banns of all that are to be married
together must be published in the Church three several Sundays,
during the time of Morning Service, or of Evening Service, (if
there be no Morning Service,) immediately after the second Lesson;
the Curate saying after the accustomed manner, I publish the Banns
of Marriage between M. of - and N. of -. If any of you know cause,
or just impediment, why these two persons should not be joined
together in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it. This is the first
[second, or third] time of asking.

And if the persons that are to be married dwell
in divers Parishes, the Banns must be asked in both Parishes; and
the Curate of the one Parish shall not solemnize Matrimony betwixt
them, without a Certificate of the Banns being thrice asked, from
the Curate of the other Parish.

At the day and time appointed for solemnization
of Matrimony, the persons to be married shall come into the Body of
the Church with their friends and neighbours: and there standing
together, the Man on the right hand, and the Woman on the left, the
Priest shall say,

Dearly beloved, we
are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of
this Congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy
Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the
time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that
is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned
and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he
wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be
honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be
enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly,
to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that
have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly,
soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for
which Matrimony was ordained.
First, It was ordained for the procreation of children, to be
brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise
of his holy Name.
Secondly, It was ordained for a remedy against sin, and to avoid
fornication; that such persons as have not the gift of continency
might marry, and keep themselves undefiled members of Christ's
body.
Thirdly, It was ordained for the mutual society, help, and
comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in
prosperity and adversity. Into which holy estate these two persons
present come now to be joined. Therefore if any man can shew any
just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him
now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.

And also, speaking unto the persons that shall
be married, he shall say,

I require and
charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of
judgement, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that
if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully
joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well
assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's
Word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their
Matrimony lawful.

At which day of Marriage, if any man do allege
and declare any impediment, why they may not be coupled together in
Matrimony, by God's law, or the laws of this Realm; and will be
bound, and sufficient sureties with him, to the parties; or else
put in a caution (to the full value of such charges as the persons
to be married do thereby sustain) to prove his allegation: then the
solemnization must be deferred, until such time as the truth be
tried.

If no impediment be alleged, then shall the
Curate say unto the Man,

N. wilt thou
have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's
ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her,
comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and,
forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both
shall live?

The Man shall answer,

I will.

Then shall the Priest say unto the Woman,

N.wilt thou have this man to thy wedded
husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate
of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and
keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep
thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

The Woman shall answer,
I will.

Then shall the Minister say,

Who giveth this woman to be married to this
man?

Then shall they give their troth to each other
in this manner.

The Minister, receiving the Woman at her
father's or friend's hands, shall cause the Man with his right hand
to take the Woman by her right hand, and to say after him as
followeth.

I N. take thee N. to my wedded wife, to have and to
hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for
poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till
death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I
plight thee my troth.

Then shall they loose their hands; and the
Woman, with her right hand taking the Man by his right hand, shall
likewise say after the Minister,

I N. take
thee N. to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day
forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness
and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do
part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my
troth.

Then shall they again loose their hands; and
the Man shall give unto the Woman a Ring, laying the same upon the
book with the accustomed duty to the Priest and Clerk. And the
Priest, taking the Ring, shall deliver it unto the Man, to put it
upon the fourth finger of the Woman's left hand. And the Man
holding the Ring there, and taught by the Priest, shall say,

With this ring I
thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly
goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then the Man leaving the
Ring upon the fourth finger of the Woman's left hand, they shall
both kneel down, and the Minister shall say,

Let us pray.

O eternal God,
Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace,
the Author of everlasting life: Send thy blessing upon these thy
servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy Name; that,
as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons
may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made,
(whereof this ring given and received is a token and pledge,) and
may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live
according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Priest join their right hands
together, and say,

Those whom God hath joined together let no man
put asunder.

Then shall the Minister speak unto the
people.

Forasmuch as N. and
N. have consented together in
holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this
company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to
other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a
ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and
wife together, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost. Amen.

And the Minister shall add this Blessing.

God the Father, God
the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the
Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you, and so fill you with
all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together
in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life
everlasting. Amen.

Then the Minister or Clerks, going to the
Lord's Table, shall say or sing this Psalm following.

Beati omnes.Psalm 128
Blessed are all they that fear the Lord : and walk in his
ways.

For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands : O
well is thee, and happy shalt thou be.

Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine : upon
the walls of thy house;

Thy children like the olive branches : round
about thy table.

Lo, thus shall the man be blessed : that feareth
the Lord.

The Lord from out of Sion shall so bless thee:
that thou shalt see Jerusalem in prosperity all thy life long;

Yea, that thou shalt see thy children's
children: and peace upon Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to
the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever
shall be : world without end. Amen.

Or this Psalm.

Deus
misereatur.Psalm 67

God be merciful unto
us, and bless us : and shew us the light of his countenance, and be
merciful unto us:

That thy way may be known upon earth : thy
saving health among all nations.

Let the people praise thee, O God : yea, let all
the people praise thee.

O let the nations rejoice and be glad : for thou
shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon
earth.

Let the people praise thee, O God : yea, let all
the people praise thee.

Then shall the earth bring forth her increase:
and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing.

God shall bless us : and all the ends of the
world shall fear him.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to
the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever
shall be : world without end. Amen.

The Psalm ended, and the Man and the Woman
kneeling before the Lord's Table, the Priest standing at the Table,
and turning his face towards them, shall say,

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Answer.Christ, have mercy upon
us.

Minister.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father which
art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be
done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that
trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver
us from evil. Amen.

Minister. O
Lord, save thy servant, and thy handmaid;

Answer.Who
put their trust in thee.

Minister. O
Lord, send them help from thy holy place;

Answer.And
evermore defend them.

Minister.
Be unto them a tower of strength,

Answer.From
the face of their enemy.

Minister. O
Lord, hear our prayer;

Answer.And
let our cry come unto thee.

Minister.

O God of Abraham,
God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless these thy servants, and sow the
seed of eternal life in their hearts; that whatsoever in thy holy
Word they shall profitably learn, they may in deed fulfil the same.
Look, O Lord, mercifully upon them from heaven, and bless them. And
as thou didst send thy blessing upon Abraham and Sarah, to their
great comfort, so vouchsafe to send thy blessing upon these thy
servants; that they obeying thy will, and alway being in safety
under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives' end;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This Prayer next following shall be omitted,
where the Woman is past child-bearing.

O merciful
Lord, and heavenly Father, by whose gracious gift mankind is
increased: We beseech thee, assist with thy blessing these two
persons, that they may both be fruitful in procreation of children,
and also live together so long in godly love and honesty, that they
may see their children christianly and virtuously brought up, to
thy praise and honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, who by thy
mighty power hast made all things of nothing; who also (after other
things set in order) didst appoint, that out of man (created after
thine own image and similitude) woman should take her beginning;
and, knitting them together, didst teach that it should never be
lawful to put asunder those whom thou by Matrimony hadst made one:
O God, who hast consecrated the state of Matrimony to such an
excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the
spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church: Look
mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his
wife, according to thy Word, (as Christ did love his spouse the
Church, who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as
his own flesh,) and also that this woman may be loving and amiable,
faithful and obedient to her husband; and in all quietness,
sobriety, and peace, be a follower of holy and godly matrons. O
Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting
kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Priest
say,

Almighty God, who
at the beginning did create our first parents, Adam and Eve, and
did sanctify and join them together in marriage; Pour upon you the
riches of his grace, sanctify and bless you, that ye may please him
both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto your
lives' end. Amen.

After which, if there be no Sermon declaring
the duties of Man and Wife, the Minister shall read as
followeth.

All ye that are
married, or that intend to take the holy estate of Matrimony upon
you, hear what the holy Scripture doth say as touching the duty of
husbands towards their wives, and wives towards their husbands.

Saint Paul, in his Epistle to the Ephesians,
the fifth Chapter, doth give this commandment to all married men;
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church,
and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with
the washing of water, by the word; that he might present it to
himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such
thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish. So ought
men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his
wife loveth himself: for no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but
nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: for we
are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this
cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined
unto his wife; and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great
mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.
Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife,
even as himself.

Likewise the same Saint Paul, writing to the
Colossians, speaketh thus to all men that are married; Husbands,
love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Hear also what Saint Peter, the Apostle of
Christ, who was himself a married man, saith unto them that are
married; Ye husbands, dwell with your wives according to knowledge;
giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as
being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not
hindered.

Hitherto ye have heard the duty of the husband
toward the wife. Now likewise, ye wives, hear and learn your duties
toward your husbands, even as it is plainly set forth in holy
Scripture.

Saint Paul, in the aforenamed Epistle to the
Ephesians, teacheth you thus; Wives, submit yourselves unto your
own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the
wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and he is the
Saviour of the body. Therefore as the Church is subject unto
Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
And again he saith, Let the wife see that she reverence her
husband.

And in his Epistle to the Colossians, Saint
Paul giveth you this short lesson; Wives, submit yourselves unto
your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

Saint Peter also doth instruct you very well,
thus saying; Ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that,
if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by
the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste
conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning, let it not be that
outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or
of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the
heart, in that which is not corruptible; even the ornament of a
meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who
trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their
own husbands; even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; whose
daughters ye are as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any
amazement.

It is convenient that the new-married persons
should receive the holy Communion at the time of their Marriage, or
at the first opportunity after their Marriage.

Text from The Book of Common Prayer, the
rights in which are vested in the Crown,
is reproduced by permission of the Crown's Patentee, Cambridge
University Press.

Pilgrim Course
A course for the Christian Journey - where people can explore the Christian faith together and see how it can be lived out each day.

Church Growth Research and Development
Church of England's work on church growth research and development that aims to help the Church allocate its resources effectively to facilitate its mission and growth

Presence and Engagement
The Church of England’s national programme equipping Christians for mission and ministry in the wonderful diversity of our multi faith society

To Your Credit
Information and resources to help churches and individuals act for a fairer financial system, including support for credit unions.